Ivan Edward Dale, age 90, of Colorado City, Colorado and Sun City, Arizona passed away peacefully at home on December 6, 2021. Ivan was born June 27th, 1931 in Greeley Colorado, to Edward Fisher Dale and Louise Crowley Dale. He attended Colorado State University where he was a member of Farmhouse Fraternity and studied agriculture. After serving stateside as a Staff Sergeant in the US Air Force during the Korean War, he married Dona Mae Zgut, whom he met at CSU where Ivan returned to finish his degree. The pair moved to Keensburg where Ivan rejoined his father in farming.
After their first three daughters were born, the family moved to Rye where they welcomed their fourth daughter. Ivan began an earth excavation business and returned to school, this time attending Southern Colorado State College to earn his teaching certificate. So began Ivan’s dedication to the students and community of the Rye area. Ivan taught at Rye High School for 21 years. He continued working with his backhoe in the summers and on weekends, and was routinely called upon by all three local summer camps.
He loved spending hours on the mountain, and enjoyed recounting stories related to his time there. One of his favorites was about the time he was working on a job for the Forest Service and got caught in an early snowstorm. Never one to leave a job unfinished, he ended up using his backhoe to plow a path back to the highway for his truck so he could head home. He served as a part time deputy sheriff and posse member for Pueblo County, as well as 40 years with the Rye Fire Department as a fireman and EMT, including a number of years as Assistant Fire Chief.
Ivan enjoyed his time in the community and traveling with Dona by his side; he was always ready for another adventure. Prior to his passing he spoke about how happy he was to celebrate his and Dona’s 90th birthdays and their 66th wedding anniversary with well wishes from numerous former students, friends and family.
Although our hearts will miss him, we know he is still here with us. Missed, but never forgotten, by his wife Dona, daughters, Cheri Dale, Sandra Woodruff, Julie Dale Bouzis and Lauri (Douglas) Sutton, five granddaughters: Kristen Kellar, Kathleen Bouzis, Jessica White, Susanne Scougale, and Sophia Bouzis, two great-grandsons Elias and Colton, brother Allen (Shirley) Dale, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorial services and interment will be held on Saturday, May 21st at St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Rye, beginning at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Rye Fire Protection District, PO Box 296, Rye, CO 81069.
